Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

Alert, to the Picture Industry tion MOTION PICTURE DAILY 49. NO. 46 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 1941 TEN CENTS justice Dep't Won't Govern Decree: TNEC Left to Trade Members, Industry Report Says The United States Department of Justice, instead of assuming enforcement of the recently signed consent decree in the motion picture industry, appears to have specifically resigned these powers, it is stated in a report on the industry prepared for Congress by the Temporary National Economic Committee. Instead of assuming enforcement itself, the report states, the Department of Justice has imposed enforcement of the decree on the members of the industry, "and, to a considerable extent, on the weaker members." The reference is to the necessity of exhibitors bringing complaints under the arbitration system, which is a part of the decree. The film industry report, one of Continued on page 9) Quigley Winners On Coast March 17 E. C. Callow of Warners' Philadelphia Theatres, winner of the 1940 Silver Plaque awarded by Managers' Round Table of Motion Picture Herald, and J. R. Wheeler, manager of j Great States' Granada Theatre, South " Bend, Ind., Bronze Plaque winner, are j scheduled to arrive in Hollywood March 17 for the presentation ceremony. The presentation will be made next day at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. They will be entertained during their week's stay on the Coast as guests of Quigley Publications by a committee composed of all Hollywood Continued on page 9) Harry Warner Due Here on March 15 Harry M. Warner, president of I Warner Bros., is expected to arrive here on March 15 for home office conferences and a visit with Jack Warner, vice-president in charge of production, who is now here looking for plays and stories. The latter arrived from California about a week ago. U. S. and Little 3 Confer Today on Schine Trust Suit A conference on procedure for trial of the Government anti-trust suit against the Schine Circuit and the "Little Three" in Buffalo is scheduled to be held here today by Government and defense attorneys. Developments within the next few days are expected to determine whether the Schine suit will be the first of the four Government anti-trust actions still pending against the Little Three to go to trial. Indications recently were that a consent decree eliminating the circuit from the action might be agreed upon, in which case one of the other three actions probably would be tried first. A Government spokesman, however, recently asserted that the decree negotiations had collapsed and indicated that, as a result, the Schine action in (Continued on page 12) Republic Acquires Midwest Franchise Republic has acquired from Harry Mandel distribution franchise rights for the Chicago, Milwaukee and Indianapolis territories, James R. Grainger, president, announced yesterday at the opening of the company's Eastern regional sales meeting here. Republic now operates directly eight exchanges. The deal is already effective. Grainger said that Jack Frackman, manager of the Milwaukee office ; L. W. Marriett, Indianapolis manager, and Harry Lorch, Chicago manager, (Continued on page 12) Ga. Senate Passes Anti 5-Block Bill Atlanta, Ga., March 6.— The Georgia Senate today passed a block booking bill permitting distributors to offer their full season's program with a 20 per cent cancellation privilege to the exhibitor. The measure now goes to the House for action. A similar bill seeking to set aside the blocks-of-five provision of the Federal consent decree is pending in the Minnesota legislature. Arbitration Cases Now Total 23 With 3 New Ones Filed Three new demands for arbitration were filed with local boards at Buffalo, New Orleans and Dallas yesterday, according to reports to American Arbitration Association headquarters here. The complaints bring the total on file to 23, in 12 local boards. The Buffalo complaint was filed by A. A. Carlson, owner of the Carlson, Mayville, N. Y., against all five consenting companies and asks an adjustment on clearance. Carlson requests a finding that his theatre is entitled to play day and date with the competing Jamestown Theatre. The complaint is the second on file in Buffalo. Charles J. Wollner, operator of the Drive-In Theatre, New Orleans, who last week filed a "some run" and clear (Continucd on page 12) 44 That Night in Rio 9* [20th Century-Fox] Hollyzvood, March 6 WITH five hit songs in its score, a good plot with many lively situations and hilarious climax, a cast headed by Alice Faye, Don Ameche and Carmen Miranda and a lavish production, "That Night in Rio" is one of the sprightliest musical comedies to come to the screen in a long time. The songs are by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren, there are elaborately staged dances by Hermes Pan and the costuming drew "oh"s and "ah"s from the ladies present in the preview room. The songs (which you'll be hearing around) include "I'yi, Yi, Yi, Yi (I Like You very Much)," "Chica, Chica, Boom, Chic," "Boa Noite," "They Met in Rio" and "The Baron Is in Conference." Carmen Miranda is at her vivacious best, which means her songs and dances have a lilt and a tingle, Don Ameche is in a dual role as a night club entertainer and a baron and sometimes both, and Alice Faye, as the wife of the baron, provides a skillful interpretation of the role. As Larry Martin, the night club entertainer, Ameche's best act is an imitation of Baron Duarte. When the latter gets into business difficul (Continued on page 12) 'Let Us Have Unity' Rodger $ Urges Trade Pleads for Conciliation In Ampa Address By SAM SHAIN "Conciliate first — but failing in this, let us make use of the machinery which lias been set up to settle our differences — arbitration. Conciliation and arbitration are the paths to industry harmony." Th us did William F . Rodgers, general sales manager of M-GM, plead yesterday before an audience of more than 300, of which number fully 200 were theatre operators and exhibitor representatives, at the regular biweekly luncheon meeting of Ampa held at the Hotel Edison at which he was the principal guest and speaker. Rodgers spoke extemporaneously. He had been scheduled to speak on publicity and advertising, but apparently because of the unusually large number of theatre men present, he put his prepared speech aside and addressed himself to exhibitor problems and the consent decree. His keynote was fair dealing and industry unity. (Continued on page 12) W. F. Rodgers 'Confidence,GoodwilV "On 'Boom Town,' 4,500 exhibitors voluntarily increased their box-office scales, and when we offered 'Gone With the Wind,' at terms of 70-30, with a profit guaranty of 10 per cent, 80 per cent of those who bought the picture didn't ask for the guaranty, knowing we would make good," William F. Rodgers yesterday told the Ampa. "That's confidence— that's goodwill," said Rodgers.